Has anyone benefited from being conserved

[MaryBear]

in California? That is, having medical and financial responsibilities handled by a conservator appointed by the Public Guardian? For mental illness such as Bipolar Disorder. The person doesn't take their meds because they like the hypo-mania but then they become psychotic and recently intentionally OD'd (unsuccessfully).

[Maraya1969]

1. I've never had that but I've had a lot of help from my Mom and I'm very

grateful for it. Not only is everyday stress hard for bp's there is more stress just from having the illness and having to go to the doctor and taking your medicines and finding the right ones and getting on SSD - or getting some kind of help if you need it.

The last "review" I received from SSD had all sorts of questions like: "how many times have you been hospitalized? Who was your attending physician? What medications did they give you" What were the dates?"

I wrote back and said: "How the fuck and I supposed to remember these things? I can barely remember the names of some of the hospitals let alone the frigging doctor!!!" When you go into these places you are not exactly in the best mental state. The questions were stupid.

They continued my benefits and I haven't had to fill out another form since. Maybe they will send me one someday but from the way I wrote all over the last one I think they got the point.

Thank God for my mom and my dad before he passed. I swear I would have ended up on the streets pushing a baggage cart if I didn't have their help. And I feel a lot of empathy for people who don't have help and I get mad at the government for making it so hard on people with mental problems. What they did is akin to asking a person with severe walking problems to walk miles to get help for their walking problems. It is insane!

[MaryBear]

2. We're thinking

that if someone else is in the role of making decisions then family can just be family.